Kenya, Iran establish MOU teams

May 28, 2009 12:00 am

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By ANTHONY KAGIRI, TEHRAN, May 28 – Kenya and Iran have agreed to establish Specialised Working Groups to accelerate the implementation of signed agreements and memoranda of understanding between the two countries.

These include Economic, Trade and Banking Co-operation, Agricultural and Educational Cooperation, Energy, Oil and Industry Cooperation; and Political, Cultural, Health and Housing Cooperation.

The two countries also underscored the importance of expanding economic, political, cultural and international ties and welcomed the exchange of high-ranking delegations.

The resolutions are part of a joint communiqué signed by Kenya and Iran to further consolidate and strengthen relations between the two countries. The first vice-president Dr Parviz Davoudi signed on behalf of Iran while Prime Minister Raila Odinga committed Kenya.

Mr Odinga concluded his two-day official visit in Tehran by holding talks with the President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The two nations also agreed to study the possibility of joint investment on establishing centres for training of trainers, as well as private technical and vocational training institutes, exchange of specialised labour and experiences in required fields.

Concerning housing, both sides agreed to conclude the 2007 MOU on Housing and stressed the importance of its implementation. The two expressed interest in facilitating Iranian investors and private companies to construct low-cost housing units in Kenya.

In regard to exchange of experiences of the municipalities of Nairobi and Tehran, the two parties emphasised the importance of enhancing cooperation through capacity building in order to develop civil facilities and improve the welfare of the residents of the two capitals.

Earlier, Kenya’s Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology Dr Sally Kosgei signed an MOU on Educational, Research and technological Cooperation. Prof Mohammad Mehdi Zahedi, Iran’s minister for Science, Research and Technology signed on behalf of his country.

The Minister for Medical Services, Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o signed the MOU for Health Cooperation between Kenya and Iran. His counterpart, the Minister for Health and Medical Education Prof Kamran Baghari Lankarani signed for Iran.